Vacuum cleaning method



Sept. 2, 1969 J. c. HAMRICK VACUUM CLEANING METHOD Filed Aug. 19; 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

ATTORN l 9 J. c. HAMRlCK 3,464,858

VACUUM CLEANING METHOD Filed Aug. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z m INVENTOR'.

JAM -25 C. HAMRICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,464,858 VACUUM CLEANING METHOD James C. Hamrick, Matthews, N.C., assignor, by mesne assignments, to J L Products Incorporated, Matthews, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 458,178, May 24, 1965. This application Aug. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 573,694

Int. Cl. B08b /04 US. Cl. l34--21 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of cleaning, utilizing a cleaning system having a plurality of outlets and conduits extending therefrom to a common source of suction and wherein a cleaning hose is normally retractably stored in one of the conduits and is extended outwardly thereform for cleaning an area adjacent the conduit, and after cleaning the hose is removed from the conduit and utilized at another conduit location and retractably stored in the conduit at the last point of use.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 458,178 filed May 24, 1965 now Patent No. 3,353,996.

This invention relates to centralized vacuum cleaning systems and more particularly to a novel method of cleaning wherein a single flexible hose which may be retractably stored in and extended from various outlets and associ ated conduits in the system can be effectively utilized throughout the area serviced by the system and retractably stored at its last point of use.

Central vacuum cleaning systems are known which have a plurality of vacuum outlets at spaced locations in the walls and floors of a building from which permanently installed conduits extend to a common suction and filtering source. A flexible hose, usually about thirty feet long, is detachably connected to selected outlets and its suction end manipulated about the environs of the outlet to remove dirt, lint, and other foreign particles from surfaces to be cleaned. Due to the length of the flexible hose used in the system, problems exist in storing the hose at a convenient location for use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of cleaning wherein the cleaning is facilitated by the use of a single flexible hose at a plurality of outlets in the system, which hose is retractably stored within the permanent conduits of the system, extended therefrom to clean an area, selectively positioned to other outlets within the area, and retracted for storage in the permanent conduit of the system at the last outlet used for cleaning.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a method of cleaning utilizing a system of the type described wherein the hose may be retracted into and extended from the desired outlet by a pneumatic force applied to the hose to facilitate handling and manipulating the hose and retractably storing the hose at the last point of use.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaning system of the present invention showing a plurality of vacuum outlets with a flexible vacuum hose stored in one of the outlets and conduits leading thereto;

FIGURE 2 is the vacuum system seen in FIGURE 1 showing the flexible hose in an outlet and in an extended position therefrom for use;

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FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of the enclosure seen in the left hand portion of FIGURES 1 and 2 showing a pneumatic pump and filter chamber and their associated valve means for reversing the flow of air through the conduits of the system;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of the enclosure seen in FIGURE 3 showing the valve means in an alternate air flow position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the vacuum outlets seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the outlet box with a flexible hose stored within the associated conduit in fully retracted position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the outlet box of FIGURE 5 showing a sealing plug inserted in the vacuum outlet of the box when the box is not in use;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the outlet 'box of FIGURE 5 with the flexible hose shown in fully extended position with its inner end adjacent the vacuum outlet of the box; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the vacuum outlet seen in FIGURE 7 taken along line 8-8 thereof.

To provide pneumatic extension and retraction of the hose as practiced in the method of the present invention as will be disclosed hereinafter, the construction of the flexible hose and outlets of the system may be in accordance with my above-mentioned co-pending application, and its disclosure is intended to be incorporated by reference.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a typical vacuum cleaning system of the present invention wherein a plurality of stationary suction conduits 21, 22, 23 are connected by a common conduit 24 to a vacuum-operated dirt collection device (not seen) which is housed in an enclosure A. The enclosure is preferably positioned exteriorly of a building, and conduits 21, 22 and 23 generally extend beneath the floor or over the ceiling of the building, as desired. Located at the outer end of each of the conduits are outlet boxes 25, 26, and 27, which boxes are suitably positioned in the floor or walls of the building to provide access for the attachment of a flexible vacuum hose 28.

The interior of the enclosure A, indicated in broken lines in FIGURES 3 and 4, houses a vacuum chamber 31 and a centrifugal pump 32. The common conduit 24 extends into the vacuum chamber 31 and is in communication with the interior of a filter bag 33 located in the chamber. An outlet conduit 34 extends from the chamber 31 and is connected to the inlet side of the centrifugal pump 32. An exhaust conduit 35 extends from the outlet side of the pump and, by means of a rotary valve 38 communicating with both conduits 24 and 35, connects the outlet side of the pump to the atmosphere. As seen in FIGURE 4, the rotary valve 38 may be turend degrees to connect the outlet side of the pump to the common conduit 24 and effectively reverse the direction of pneumatic force in the system, for a purpose which will be explained.

As seen in FIGURE 2, the inner end of the flexible vacuum hose 28 extends into the conduit 23 through an opening in the outlet box 27 and the outer end of the hose carries an attachment nozzle 42, which is adapted to receive a plurality of standard vacuum cleaning attachments. For storage, the vacuum hose 28 is normally retractably positioned longitudinally in any one of the stationary conduits (FIGURE 1) with the attachment nozzle 42 of the hose located in the outlet box for access. For convenience, the hose is stored at its last point of use in the system.

Each of the outlet boxes is provided with a sealing plug 43 which may be positioned in the conduit opening of the outlet box to effectively seal the conduit against 3 the passage of air therethrough when the outlet is not in use. Since the outlet boxes shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are identical, only one will be described.

Outlet box 26 (FIGURE 5) is of rectangular shape and has a bottom wall 51 with an opening 51a therein in communication with the outlet end 22a of the stationary conduit 22. The front of box 26 is open to provide access to the opening 51a and a suitable cover therefor may be provided (not shown). For convenience, the sealing plug 43 is attached by a chain to one wall of the box and is retained thereby when the flexible hose 28 is attached to the box for cleaning. The end of conduit 22 is secured to the outlet box 26 by a pair of mating collars 61 and 62, which are respectively fixed to the end of the conduit 22 and the interior of the bottom 51 of the outlet box. The collars clamp the bottom wall of the box therebetween and secure the conduit 22 in the opening 51a in the box.

The attachment nozzle 42 of the flexible hose has a central passageway 42a which communicates with the open end of the hose 28 and a rotary valve 64 located in the nozzle is movable by a lever 65 to open and close the passageway 42a. A seating ring 66 carried on an inner portion of the attachment nozzle 42 is supported on a flanged annular lip 67 of the collar 62 when the hose 28 is in retracted or stored position within the conduit 22.

The attachment nozzle 42 and flexible hose 28 are retractably stored in position in the conduit by means of a locking plate 71 which is operatively secured to the collar 62 for sliding movement and is biased by a pair of springs 72 (FIGURE 7) to partially close the opening 51a of the outlet box and grip the outer periphery of the hose nozzle attachment 42. The inner end portion of the flexible hose 28 carries a sealing ring 68 which engages the inner walls of the stationary conduit 22 to form an air tight seal between the inner and outer surfaces of the hose 28.

To permit removal of the flexible hose 28 from the outlet box, a handle device 81 is provided to displace the locking plate from opening 51a. The device is pivotally mounted in a pair of upstanding support members 82 carried on collar 62 and locked therein by a pair of brads 83. A downwardly extending curved portion 84 of the handle device engages a horizontal slot 85 in the locking plate 71. By depressing either of a pair of arm portions 86 of the handle device 81, the locking plate 71 is slidably displaced sideways from its position over a portion of the opening 51a to permit the inner end of the flexible hose 28 to be removed from the outlet box and transferred to another outlet box for cleaning.

For convenience, a pair of control switches 91, 92 are located in the top portion of each of the outlet boxes. Switch 91 is electrically connected to motor means (not shown) of the centrifugal pump 33 and switch 92 is electrically connected to operate a solenoid 93 which is connected by an arm 93a to the rotary valve 38.

To prevent the passage of air through the openings in the outlet boxes when the flexible hose 28 is not attached thereto, the sealing plugs 43 are manually inserted into the openings 51a by depressing the arm portions 86 of handle device 81 and a sealing ring 87 on the lower end of the plug rests on the flanged lip 67 of collar 62 and effectively seals the opening 51a.

To operate the system in the novel manner of the present invention, all of the vacuum outlets of the system are closed by the sealing plugs 43, with the exception of the outlet in which the cleaning hose 28 is retractably stored. To extend the flexible hose 28 from retracted position in the conduit, switch 91 is turned on to activate the centrifugal pump 33 and produce a pneumatic force or vacuum in the conduits of the system (FIGURE 3). Switch 92 is then turned on to activate solenoid 93 which moves arm 93a and the rotary valve 38 to connect the outlet of pump 33 to conduit 24 and reverse the air flow in the conduits to exert a force in the direction of the outlet boxes (FIGURE 4). The arm portion 86 of handle device 81 is depressed to release the attachment nozzle 42 from opening 51a in the outlet box and valve 64 therein is manually closed. Pneumatic pressure in conduit 22 acting on the interior of the flexible hose 28 forces the hose outwardly along the conduit 22 from its stored position. When a sufficient amount of the hose has been extended from the outlet box, valve 51 is opened to release the pressure in the hose 28 and stop the movement of the hose along the conduit 22.

To provide suction currents in the hose to clean the area, switch 92 is cut off to de-energize the solenoid 93 and a spring 94, connected to arm 93a, returns the valve 38 to its normal position wherein the inlet side of pump 33 is connected to the conduit 24 through the filter chamber 31 and the outlet side of the pump discharges to the atmosphere. The flexible hose 28 may then be manipulated about the area as the suction currents passing through a suitable attachment on the inlet of the nozzle draw dirt and other debris through the hose and conduits to be caught in the filter bag 32 of the filter chamber 31.

When the area adjacent the outlet box has been cleaned, centrifugal pump 33 is cut off by switch 91 and the hose is removed from the outlet box by depressing the handle member 81 and withdrawing the end of the hose from the opening 51a. The outlet is then closed by plug 43 and the hose is manually carried to another outlet box and the inner end of the hose is inserted into the opening of the outlet box. The centrifugal pump 33 is again energized by the switch 91 on the outlet box to direct vacuum currents through the hose for cleaning the area adjacent the outlet.

To retractably store the hose at its last point of use, the valve 64 in the attachment nozzle is closed while the centrifugal pump 33 is producing vacuum currents through the system. Due to the reduced pressure in the interior of the flexible hose 28, the hose is retractably drawn longitudinally into the stationary conduit associated with the outlet. When the hose is fully retracted, the handle member 81 is depressed and the attachment nozzle is locked into the outlet. The switch 91 on the box is then cut off to de-energize the centrifugal pump and shut down the system.

Although the system, as shown, provides each of the outlet boxes with features which permit extension, retraction, and removal of the flexible hose from the outlet, the construction of the hose does not preclude its use in a standard vacuum outlet which is not adapted to retractably store the hose, and if desired, such outlets might be incorporated in the system in places where storage of the hose might not be desired, such as garages, patios and the like.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cleaning an area serviced by a plurality of conduits having outlets wherein spaced throughout the area with all of said conduits being connected to a common source of vacuum, and including a flexible cleaning hose which is normally retractably stored longitudinally within one of the conduits and movable outwardly therein through the conduit outlet for use, said method comprising the steps of (a) extending a portion of the hose through said one conduit outlet from its stored position in said conduit,

(b) directing suction currents through said hose and into said conduit while effectively sealing all other outlets against the passage of air therethrough and while manipulating said hose to clean a portion of the area,

(c) removing said flexible hose from said one outlet,

(d) connecting said hose to at least one other outlet,

(e) directing suction currents through said hose and into said other outlet and the conduit connected thereto while effectively sealing all other outlets against passage of air therethrough and while manipulating said hose to clean a portion of the area, and

(f) retracting the hose into said outlet and its adjacent conduit to store said hose longitudinally therein.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of extending a portion of the hose through said one conduit outlet from its stored position is effected by applying a pneumatic force to the hose to move the hose outwardly along the one conduit.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of retracting the hose into the other outlet and its conduit is efiected by applying a pneumatic force to the hose to move the hose inwardly along the other conduit...

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of extending a portion of the hose through said one conduit outlet is effected by applying a pneumatic force to the hose to move the hose outwardly along the conduit; and wherein the step of retracting the hose into the other outlet and its conduit is efiected by applying a pneumatic force to the hose to move the hose inwardly along the other conduit.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the step of extending a portion of the hose through said one conduit outlet includes the steps of (a) creating a pneumatic pressure, and

(b) directing said pressure through the conduits and .against the hose to blow the hose in a direction along said one conduit towards its outlet.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the step of retracting the hose into said other outlet includes the steps of (a) creating a source of suction, and

(b) directing said suction through the conduits to move the hose in a direction away from said other outlet and along its adjacent conduit.

7. A method of cleaning an area serviced by a vacuum system having a plurality of interconnected conduits with outlets therein spaced throughout the area and with all of the conduits being connected to a common pneumatic source, and wherein said system includes a flexible cleaning hose normally retractably stored longitudinally within one of the conduits and movable outwardly therefrom through its associated outlet for use in cleaning a portion of said area; said method comprising the steps of (a) creating a pneumatic force at the common source and directing said force against the retractably stored hose to move a predetermined extent of the hose outwardly beyond the associated outlet of said one conduit while efiectively sealing all other outlets against the passage of air therethrough,

(b) reversing the direction of said pneumatic force to direct suction currents through said hose and into said one conduit while maintaining all other outlets in said system sealed againtst the passage of air therethrough,

(c) manipulating said hose to clean a portion of the area,

(-d) ceasing said pneumatic force and removing said flexible hose from said associated outlet,

(e) connecting said hose to at least one other outlet,

(f) recreating said pneumatic force and directing suction currents through said hose into said other outlet and the conduit associated therewith while efiectively sealing the remaining outlets in the system against the passage of air therethrough,

(g) manipulating said hose to clean a portion of the area, and thereafter (h) applying said pneumatic force to the hose to withdraw the hos into said other outlet and its adjacent conduit to retractably store the hose longitudinally therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,312 8/1926 Cesa.

2,623,234- 12/1952 Brown 15-315 XR 3,278,949 10/1966 Whitaker 134-168 3,353,996 11/1967 Hamrick 134-21 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner D. G. MILLMAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,464 ,858 September 2 1969 James C. Hamrick It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 4,

"J L Products Incorporated" should read Jet Line Products Incorporated Column 1 line 71 after "an", first occurrenc: insert alternate Column 2 line 54 "turend" should read turned Signed and sealed this 24th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest: Edward M. Fletcher, 11'. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

